The state of Wisconsin granted $3 billion in tax incentives to Foxconn to entice them to manufacture in the midwestern state. This is not only the highest government subsidy ever offered for a foreign company to locate to the U.S., but it also specifically entices production that goes into the Apple iPhone. It certainly proves that blanket statements about innovation in government are just as inaccurate as all others! Wisconsin shows that thinking outside the box can be achieved even in government.

Clearly, it also shows that manufacturing is relevant in today’s environment. Have you thought about whether you are thinking outside the box? And are you searching for what might be available to support manufacturers? There are actually many programs (federal, state and local) where you can gain “free” money for things you already do – perform research & development, provide training (California has incentives), and the list goes on. Feel free to contact us anytime to learn more.

What Should We Consider and/or What Impacts Could Arise?

What might seem impossible to us might not be! Do you tend to write off ideas before considering their full value? Perhaps we should take a page from Wisconsin’s playbook and look at the big picture, think long-term and mix it up a bit. We should also take a second look at innovation. Do we have a work culture that will support out-of-the-box ideas? If not, we must start there.

And, last but not least, do you consider manufacturing relevant? Although I live on the border of the Inland Empire in California, which is known for big box distributors (Target, Amazon, Apple 3PL’s etc.), it is simply amazing how much manufacturing is also located here. You hear about how everything has moved to China or Mexico and manufacturing is dead but “we are not dead yet” (reminds me of the Monty Python…) Actually, we are far from dead – there is quite a strong push to locate manufacturing closer to customers and leverage innovative collaborative and efficiency programs to ensure profitability to boot. If you’d like to learn more, take a look at programs like APICS Inland Empire‘s session on “Changing Trade Policies and its Effect on Reshoring“. Fascinating stuff no matter where you live.